Orange County NC Website
-- ., <br />Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement is required. Written comments have been <br />.... received from the Town of Carrboro, and verbal comments have been received from the <br />Planning Director far the Town of Ghapel Hill who indicated he saw no real problem <br />with the Ordinance. His only concern, which was also a concern expressed by Carrboro, <br />was where the Ordinance would apply. Would it apply only in Orange County's <br />jurisdiction, or would it also apply within the corporate limits and zoning and <br />planning jurisdictions of the various towns. Since that issue is not resolved, <br />Collins recommended that the Ordinance apply only within Orange County's jurisdiction. <br />He noted that when the County adopted the Erosion Control Ordinance, it applied <br />countywide, because there was an agreement that it be applied on that basis. If we <br />are going to have a countywide ordinance approach far the Environmental Impact <br />Ordinance, this same type of agreement could be initiated. <br />Commissioner Marshall pointed out that there are different ways this can be <br />accomplished. Milton Heath suggested that it be done in the County's own planning <br />jurisdiction and only upon request would it be enforced in the municipalities. <br />Attorney Geoffrey Gledhill mentioned that the Chapter under which this Ordinance <br />is being enacted does not state whether it applies within the entire County or just <br />within that portion of the County not within a town. There needs to be legislative <br />clarification. The questions of its applicability can be handled in the interim by <br />agreement among the towns and the county. The problem with attempting to say that a <br />Countywide Ordinance only applies outside of the towns is that unless Statues give the <br />County authority to do that, it raises a question about whether or not the Ordinance <br />is applicable anywhere. <br />Collins summarized the contents of the Environmental Impact Ordinance which is a <br />part of the permanent agenda file in the Glerk's office. The Planning Staff <br />recommends approval of the Ordinance. . <br />QUESTIONS O,13 COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS OR THE PLANNING BOARD <br />Commissioner Hartwell questioned if there was a provision for exemption for <br />agricultural lands. Collins stated that agricultural and/or farm uses would not be <br />affected by this Ordinance. <br />Gledhill's legal opinion was that this ordinance did not exclude farm uses. If <br />the farm use fell into any of the categories mentioned in the Ordinance it would be <br />subject to this Ordinance. If the county wants farm and/or agricultural uses to be <br />exempt it will need to make these exclusions. <br />Commissioner Hartwell asked that agricultural and/or farm uses be exempted. <br />Steve Yuhasz asked if someone had IO acres and wanted to put in a pond would they <br />fall under the environmental assessment or would that be considered a normal exception <br />to residential use? He also asked about clearing 4 acres of land for a horse pasture. <br />Collins indicated that the specifics of the size of the pond and how much land it <br />disturbed would have to be considered. However, in reading .the ordinance it appears <br />that it would "fall out" in terms of the first review, and it would not require an <br />assessment. In the case of clearing land for a horse pasture the specifics would need <br />to be reviewed, but that also appears to be another case where it would be unnecessary <br />to submit an assessment. <br /> <br />